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ReviewsPS4Judgment: The Kotaku Review
Yakuza 6 closed the book on the story of fabled gangster Kazuma Kiryu, but Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s relentless release schedule cannot be stopped. While we know the developer is capable of different (and brilliant) things—see Binary Domain—they’ve decided to stick with the Yakuza formula in all but name with their latest game Judgment, out…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 25, 2019 -
ReviewsHeadsetsThe Most Comfortable Gaming Headset I’ve Ever Worn
Audio-Technica’s ATH-ADG1X open-air gaming headset has a lot going for it. It’s designed and built by one of the most respected brands in audio. It’s got big 53 mm drivers that create a lovely, large soundstage. It’s even got a decent microphone for a gaming headset. But the best thing about the ADG1X is how…
By Mike Fahey Published June 18, 2019 -
ReviewsSwitchCadence of Hyrule: The Kotaku Review
Cadence of Hyrule feels like a french fry dunked into a milkshake. There’s two distinct flavors at play—the deep exploration of a Zelda game with the bouncy pace of a rhythm game—and they mix together into something greater than the initial pitch. In combining two addictive yet contrasting gameplay styles, Cadence of Hyrule crafts a…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 14, 2019 -
Reviews3DSPersona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth: The Kotaku Review
When I first started Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, I was having an absolute blast. That wasn’t surprising, because its predecessor, 2014’s Persona Q, was an excellent game, and the series these games draw from, Etrian Odyssey, is also excellent. So it was with high expectations that I jumped into a Hard mode playthrough on…
By Natalie Degraffinried Published June 3, 2019 -
ReviewsPCTotal War: Three Kingdoms: The Kotaku Review
Ever since Rome 2’s disappointing release back in 2013, it feels like the Total War series has been lost and in search of something. From Attila and Thrones of Britannia’s tinkering to the Warhammer games’ explosion of personality there has been wild experimentation between titles. Three Kingdoms is the culmination of that adventure. The release…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 28, 2019 -
ReviewsETCGodzilla: King of the Monsters: The Kotaku Review
It’s fitting that the first few minutes of Godzilla: King of the Monsters are a flashback. The movie, which is a sequel to Legendary Pictures’ 2014 Godzilla, feels like a natural evolution of the previous film. In some ways, it’s a better movie—rather, a better Godzilla movie. In other ways, it’s not. Gareth Edward’s Godzilla…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 28, 2019 -
ReviewsMultiplatformTeam Sonic Racing: The Kotaku Review
While it’s true that kart racing clashes with the idea of a character who runs super-fast, Sonic the Hedgehog is less likely to trip up when he’s driving a vehicle. Developer Sumo Digital proves that statement true a third time with Team Sonic Racing, a very good kart racer with a game-changing co-op twist. This…
By Mike Fahey Published May 21, 2019 -
ReviewsMultiplatformRage 2: The Kotaku Review
Rage 2 is caught between Good Stupid and Bad Stupid. In the end, Bad Stupid wins out. Rage 2 takes place on a dystopian, desert Earth that was struck by a meteor over a century ago. Much of the population has been wiped out, and civilization is a shadow of its former self. In the…
By Gita Jackson Published May 17, 2019 -
ReviewsETCDetective Pikachu Is A Good Movie
Based on the Nintendo 3DS game by the same name, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is the first live-action Pocket Monster adaptation. Hollywood has an abysmal track record with video game movies, but this time, it seems to have pulled off the impossible: Making an enjoyable live-action Pokémon movie that will delight fans and non-fans alike. This…
By Brian Ashcraft Published May 10, 2019 -
ReviewsKeyboardsLow-Profile Mechanical Keyboards Are Getting Really Good
Traditionally, flat keyboards are never as satisfying to type on as full-profile mechanical models with nice, chunky keycaps. But low-profile mechanical switches, like the Cherry MX models used in Cooler Master’s new line of slight keyboards, are shortening the gap. I’ve spent the past couple of months typing on each of Cooler Master’s three new…
By Mike Fahey Published May 8, 2019 -
ReviewsPCDwarf Fortress: The Kotaku Review
Dwarf Fortress is a brilliant game, but it will make you work to find that out. It’s a game that loves its complicated world and the adventures it offers players, even when the odds of winning are slim. It rewards you for putting yourself in a sticky situation—a goblin siege, a forgotten beast with deadly…
By Gita Jackson Published May 8, 2019 -
ReviewsToysHasbro’s Made Some Fine Overwatch Action Figures, Except For Reaper
Hasbro’s Overwatch Ultimates action figure line, which is hitting store shelves as we speak, gives fans of Blizzard’s hero shooter a less-expensive alternative to thosehot, Japanese Figma toys. Let’s take a look at the first wave, including Pharah, Mercy, Tracer, Lucio, Ana, Soldier 76, Sombra, a very large Reinhardt, and a sad, maskless Reaper. I…
By Mike Fahey Published May 7, 2019 -
ReviewsBoard GamesLord Of The Rings: Journeys In Middle Earth: The Kotaku Review
I’ve been playing a few board games that use an app lately, but Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle Earth is the first one I’ve played that’s been designed from the ground-up with a digital companion in mind. Funnily enough it’s published by Fantasy Flight, source of most of the other app-based games I’ve…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 30, 2019 -
ReviewsKeyboardsMy New Favorite Keyboard Is Cute, Compact, And Completely Customizable
This is the Kira, a lovely 99-key keyboard designed by the passionate independent enthusiasts at Input Club. It’s got a striking, space-saving layout. It’s got per-key RGB lighting. It’s fully programmable. On top of all that, its mechanical switches can be swapped out on the fly without soldering. It’s an everything keyboard that’s been a…
By Mike Fahey Published April 29, 2019 -
ReviewsSwitchBoxBoy + BoxGirl: The Kotaku Review
The fourth installment of Hal Laboratory’s puzzle game series about box-shaped characters who can emit boxes from their bodies is tricky to recommend to series veterans, but it is a cinch to suggest to newcomers. For those who haven’t BoxBoy’d before, it should take about 16 to decide if BoxBoy + BoxGirl is something you’ll…
By Stephen Totilo Published April 29, 2019 -
ReviewsPCImperator: Rome: The Kotaku Review
I’ve been wondering for years what a Paradox grand strategy game would look like if it was designed for regular humans, and in Imperator: Rome I have my answer. As long-time readers may know, I’m a big fan of Paradox’s grand strategy games, Crusader Kings II and Hearts of Iron IV especially. They’ve got a…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 25, 2019 -
ReviewsMultiplatformSteamWorld Quest: The Kotaku Review
I never know exactly how I’m going to approach each new battle in SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech. No matter how much I plan and prepare ahead of time, I can’t control the cards that end up in my hand in this turn-based role-playing card game. Perfect optimization is always a few steps out of…
By Ethan Gach Published April 25, 2019 -
ReviewsPS4Days Gone: The Kotaku Review
It’s worthwhile to think about the number of people around you who are waiting for the world to end. There are people who must do it for a living: government employees who specialize in disaster relief and crisis response, civil engineers, military personnel—people who must imagine the end to make sure it never comes. But…
By Joshua Rivera Published April 25, 2019 -
ReviewsMultiplatformMortal Kombat 11: The Kotaku Review
2015’s Mortal Kombat X signaled the beginning of an evolutionary turn for Netherrealm Studios’ storied fighting game series, featuring fresh new characters, a compelling story and the ability to select different fighting styles for every combatant. Mortal Kombat 11 continues this evolution, but not every aspect of the game is moving in the right direction.…
By Mike Fahey Published April 24, 2019 -
ReviewsMultiplatformCuphead: The Kotaku Review
Cuphead turns players into perfectionists. The long-awaited hand-drawn action game is full of cartoony boss battles that demand enough precision and focus that even a single hit of damage feels unacceptable. Playing Cuphead is like a stage performance; every mistake is embarrassing, but the curtain call of each defeated boss is like nothing else. This…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 18, 2019